I was wondering yesterday exactly what it is that he does ....but remembered that he is in charge of more than just F1 ... but he does not seem to do anything specific in an F1 team (except maybe keep the Merc board on side).

This may be good news for the F1 team (....,one less cook in the kitchen).

Norbert Haug is to leave Mercedes-Benz at the end of 2012 after 22 years as the company’s head of motorsport.

The company said that “his contract will come to an end by mutual agreement with the Board of Management. Preparations for the forthcoming season continue as planned.”The news comes a few months after Niki Lauda was made chairman of the board of the AMG Mercedes F1 team, a move that appeared to weaken Haug’s position.

Former magazine editor Haug joined Mercedes in October 1990, when Mercedes was competing in the World Sportscar Championship with Sauber and Michael Schumacher.Dr Dieter Zetsche, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars and CEO of Daimler AG, said: “Norbert Haug was the face of the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport programme for more than 20 years. For me, he put his stamp on a whole era and, as a highlight, he was responsible for the successful comeback of the Silver Arrows to Formula One. In the name of the Board of Management and the whole motorsport family, I would like to thank Norbert for his extraordinary commitment to the three-pointed star.”

Haug added: “I would like to thank the best car company in the world for more than 22 years, which never had a single moment without passion for me. I particularly wish to thank the Board for the trust and freedom they have always given me with all my activities.

“Since 1991, we had tremendous achievements and wins, for which I want to thank all of my colleagues. Unfortunately, with one victory in 2012 since founding our own Formula One works team in 2010, we couldn’t fulfil our own expectations. However, we have taken the right steps to be successful in the future. Our team and our drivers will do everything to achieve these goals.”

Insteresting to see that Haug found a necessity to specify that they did only win 1 under their own team after failing expectations. It's like Mercedes had given Norbert Haug 3 years to be successful, which obviously didn't materialize. I wonder a new 3-year spell with Lewis Hamilton is the final chance for Ross Brawn as well?

A very big surprise, but not entirely unexpected, Mercedes performances have not been great to say the least.

The team being top heavy could not go forward for too long in that configuration, thus this change is not totally big surprise; moreover, I suspect that's not the only change in foreseable future, and I expect more to come. F1 requires full time attention, and forthcoming technical changes in 2014 plus other duties must have taken toll on the man. I wish him well.

This may be good news for the F1 team (....,one less cook in the kitchen).

Literally!

Nah, I'll miss Norbert. He's been one of the very few constant things in F1 since I started watching besides, well, Bernie and Charlie. He was always smiling and was quite positive and playful in his interviews. A nice guy for sure, and I hope he enjoys his retirement.

I sensed that in the teams after race comments ( in the last four or so races) from Nico, Schumi, Brawn and Haug, that Haug's comments had generally become quite negative, almost as if he had lost interest. Maybe it's been on the cards for a while.

Norbert Haug is no longer sporting director of Mercedes. The contract with the 60-year-olds going to end resolved "by mutual consent", the group announced in Stuttgart on Thursday.

At the end was the chief pathetic words for his resignation. "I thank you for over 22 years with the best automotive brand in the world," said Norbert Haug. "This time no second without a passion for me was ready."

The unctuous words but presented on the day of its demise at Mercedes only half the story represents Haug, 60 years old and since 1990 in positions of responsibility for the Swabian car manufacturer must show because of what he gehuldigte world brand's most important market last failed : in 2009, announced euphoric comeback with his own team in Formula 1 including the return of the record world champion Michael Schumacher became a fiasco.

In stepping to challenge for the world title, the team managed by Haug only one Grand Prix victory by Nico Rosberg in April 2012 in Shanghai.

Otherwise oriented

Too little for the ambitious group that wants to separate by mutual consent from his years of champions. "Norbert Haug was over 20 years the face of motor sport activities of Mercedes-Benz He has played for me a whole era -. And the highlight of the successful return of the Silver Arrows responsible in Formula 1," said Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche.

Long ago, however, Mercedes had oriented themselves differently in terms of executive boss. In autumn Niki Lauda was installed as chairman of the board of the Formula 1 teams, since there was virtually stable in four alpha animals, fighting for the share: Zetsche, Haug, Lauda and team boss Ross Brawn. The long run probably one too many, as it now was.

Lauda himself denied Thursday afternoon that he has something to do with the From Haug. "I'm totally surprised and had only now know. I'm very sorry, because I would like to continue working with Norbert," he told the television channel Sky. He had always maintained a good working relationship with private and Haug. After the shock Mercedes knows yet, "as the problem is solved. Norbert is the team missing completely, as he was for the Mercedes motorsport solely responsible," said Lauda.

32 DTM title by Haug

Haug also denied Thursday that Lauda potentially could have been driver of farewell. "I would just like to clarify strongly that it is a decision that the board and I have taken unanimously and jointly. Niki had absolutely nothing to do with it," said the 60-year-old. "We accept and respect us as over the years, and this will not change anything."

Last yet imagined Haug His own well positioned for the future. In his 60th Birthday three weeks ago, he said frankly that he was motivated entirely for the upcoming season and can not feel that he is weary. In parting, presented the former chief editor of the magazine "sport auto" again makes clear that "we have been establishing our own F1 works team since 2010 our own expectations meet with a victory in 2012 is not" could, "but the stage is set for success , and the team and our drivers will do everything to achieve this. " Haug will pursue but possibly even as a spectator, if his predictions are accurate.

The brand with the star loses to Michael Schumacher's career end a month ago, their second Motorsport face. Six Formula 1 World Champion title and 87 Grand Prix wins at least fall in Haug's responsibility - all achieved with other partners. In the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) Mercedes won 32 titles under Haugs responsibility. "We have gained a lot since 1991 and achieved a lot, and my gratitude to all my colleagues," he recognized.

Lauda held talks with Hamilton

Next year should now be much better in the Silver Arrows team. An estimated 200 million euros per season can cost the Stuttgart company's Formula 1 activities, and in 2013 they think they are with the new driver Lewis Hamilton again promising the race.

Negotiations with the former McLaren driver led from the UK last Lauda already successfully. The talks about the so-called Concorde Agreement between the International Automobile Federation, the various Formula 1 teams and the Formula One Administration responsible for the Mercedes already Austrians.

"No fear of boredom"

At the time by the power curb motorsport director Norbert Haug was obvious even if he wanted no part of it and laconically noted:. "We have no personality show if we can strengthen ourselves with skills, then that is wonderful and perfectly true self. must not stand on the podium. I can with a cup of tea View the list of winners, and if the correct name is at the top, then I have quite a lot of fun. "

Now the man who "worked 24 hours a day and always given 110 percent," according to industry insiders, probably shorter occur inevitably. "I have 22 years, Mercedes thought, felt, smelled. There was nothing else for me," Haug admitted on the day of his departure.

"Nevertheless, I have no fear of boredom. I'll have time for me, time for family and friends." And then there was still his favorite hobby - not the PS industry, but the rock and roll. Maybe, maybe, 'said Norbert Haug, there would be a band again in his life.

Ross Brawn is still there so there is no vacancy for team principal. BTW, is there any clarity about how long Ross is signed up for? What exactly is Niki Lauda's position? Having Lauda involved seems unnecessary to me, and possibly risky. He has been in these positions before, but without success.

I would not be surprised if they had MS in some sort of operational role, but they can't let him get in the way. They really need to focus on Nico and Lewis.

In his 22 years involvement, I'd say Norbert Haug has been a very succesful Mercedes-Benz motorsport director with big successes in DTM AND F1.Those who are judging him with barely three years into Mercedes F1 team ownership have no sense of scale or history.

He has not been very healthy the last few years and it might do him good to take it easier.

Ross Brawn is still there so there is no vacancy for team principal. BTW, is there any clarity about how long Ross is signed up for? What exactly is Niki Lauda's position? Having Lauda involved seems unnecessary to me, and possibly risky. He has been in these positions before, but without success.

I would not be surprised if they had MS in some sort of operational role, but they can't let him get in the way. They really need to focus on Nico and Lewis.

I guarantee you Ross will not see the 2014 season with Mercedes.

We've already seen what Lauda does when he had Bobby Rahal sacked at Jaguar.

In his 22 years involvement, I'd say Norbert Haug has been a very succesful Mercedes-Benz motorsport director with big successes in DTM AND F1.Those who are judging him with barely three years into Mercedes F1 team ownership have no sense of scale or history.

He has not been very healthy the last few years and it might do him good to take it easier.